Physics Lab Relative Density

To determine the relative density of the material from which a drawing pin is constructed.

Theory-Relative density is the ratio of the density of a substance to the density of a given reference material (usually water). When the when the relative density of a substance was less than the density of water the substance floated and when the relative density of a substance is greater than the density of water the substance sunk.

Variables

Controlled-amt of water in displacement can,

Manipulative-

Responding-mass of cork bung, volume of cork bung and sinker, volume of sinker.

Discussion-This lab was fairly challenging but it was completed with satisfying results. This experiment with the cork bung can’t be improved and no trends were noticed when looking and the results taken. The experiment with the drawing pins could be improved by using a greater amount of pins when doing the experiment to find a more accurate reading by finding the average of more pins.

Conclusion-Within the limits of experimental error the relative density of a cork bung was found to be 0.1758 and the relative density of a drawing pin was found to be 3.7084.

Related GCSE Forces and Motion essays

o It should be made sure that all the weights handled carefully and do not fall on any one as they can cause injuries. o It should be made sure that the clamp stand has a stable base so that when weights are added the clamp doesn't lose balance and topple over.

* It should be made sure that the pointer of the spring is completely horizontal; therefore correct measurements of the extension will be taken from the meter-rule and so errors will be reduced. * It should be made sure that the clamp stand is very stable so that the spring does not oscillate and cause anomalous results.

Tables 1.2 and 2.2 contain the raw and processed data for the second spring. This spring is very flexible and its coils are not extremely close to each other. This spring was longer than the first spring with a length of 14.8cm and this was because of its coils not being so close to each other.

0.01 seconds) 0.64 0.86 1.33 1.68 2.46 Average Speed (? 0.01 meters per second) 5.16 3.84 2.48 1.96 1.34 Graph 1 Interpretation: As you increase the surface area of the parachute, the time taken increases and the speed decreases. Observations: As we increased the surface area, the parachute took longer to land, therefore resulting in it to land more slowly.

� Mass of trolley - mass is also included in the formula for potential energy and so could affect the speed of the trolley one way or the other. As with height, this will be varied but only in the second experiment.